HR Practices and Big Banks

New York Big Bank HR processes are circuitous, inefficient, and mostly ineffectual. They also seem to be full of disrespectful employees - whether the younger or, more surprisingly to me, even the older employees - who cannot be bothered to show the simple courtesies that can help somewhat dignify the affront that is the ever-Recession era job search.

Five interviews, they say I'm their candidate and they're putting together an offer. Almost three weeks pass, no word. I waited almost three weeks as I was reluctant to be pushy, thinking "well...as odd as it is...perhaps their process IS just this slow..." My follow-up email receives no response for two business days. I call, and HR person picks up: "I'm so sorry, I was just about to call you [BULL!]. The position is no longer available."

Great, thanks for the respect of letting me know in a TIMELY fashion.

If only I could say that this was the only time that this has happened in almost a year of job search -- unfortunately, this is NOT the only example of outright disrespect. Being a job candidate fortunate enough to many times go to the third- and fourth-round interviews, I have done so, I believe, because I not only work hard, can show evidence of that, but am also enlivened and excited about the work that I do and am RESPECTFUL of others in general.

I CANNOT say the same for HR "professionals." Especially at the big banks. And, I'll say this, too -- despite being unflinchingly CONSERVATIVE: especially the big AMERICAN banks (their acronym is three letters, and it starts with "J"....). I have too many examples to list of this type of blatant disregard for simple courtesies to list.

Thanks for listening.

HR people ("professionals"): Look yourselves in the mirror --- LOOK IN THE MIRROR -- Did you mamma raise you to act this way?!!

You should BE ASHAMED. ASHAMED.